No regrets over missing two medals: Gagan Narang

HYDERABAD - Ace shooter Gagan Narang, who won four gold medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG), returned home to a warm welcome here Saturday and said he had no regrets over missing two more medals.

“I am happy with the four that I won and there are no regrets over the two that I lost,” Narang told reporters at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after his return.

“It is a great feeling to win four medals. It was a record three at Melbourne and now a record four at Delhi,” the 27-year-old said while proudly displaying his medals.

Narang, a double world record holder, won four gold medals in the pairs and individual events of 10 metre air rifle and 50 metre three positions at the Delhi CWG. He, however, missed two medals, including the one in the 50 metre prone position.

The World No.3 feels he will get more opportunities to improve his performance in upcoming events like the Asian Games and World Cup finals.

Narang returned to a warm welcome from family, friends and fans. Narang’s mother hugged him while his well-wishers garlanded him.

Narang is an Indian Airlines executive who hails from Haryana but is settled here. He said he was happy to equal his world record with a perfect 600 in the 10 metre air rifle individual event.

The ace shooter will be richer by Rs.40 lakh as the Andhra Pradesh government has announced cash prizes worth Rs.10 lakh, Rs.7.5 lakh and Rs.5 lakh to gold, silver and bronze medal winners respectively. And Narang has four golds.

Andhra Pradesh has contributed six gold, eight silver and five bronze medals to the country’s tally.

Badminton stars Saina Nehwal and Jwala Gutta are the other gold medallists from the state.